Chain-casing for automobiles.



H. G. HEATH.

CHAIN CASING FOB. AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1912.

LQT/QQQ'Z, Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

WdTNESSES ANVEN TOR MB k Mar Heany UNTTE STATES PATNT QFFTCE.

HARRY O. HEATH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CHAIN-CASING FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To all wiwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Chain-Casing for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enable those skilled in the art to construct and use the same.

This invention relates to a sheet metal casing for driving chains of automobiles.

The object of the invention is to produce a chain case which will be sufiiciently tight to retain therein such lubricating oil as may be placed therein, and which will prevent dirt from accumulating on the chain and wearing the same.

Another object of the invention is to produce a casing which will be extremely light owing to the fact that it is made from sheet steel.

In the drawings in which the same numeral of reference is applied to the same portion throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile having this casing applied thereto, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the casing and sprockets therein showing the front plates removed from the casing. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the casing. Fig. at is a top, plan view of the casing. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the casing, looking from the reverse side of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an end View of two of the joined front plates. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of two of the front plates which are joined together and are slightly separated. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the small front plate. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the plate shown in Fig. 8, looking from the left, and Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on a slightly larger scale of the packing rings on the wheel hub and packing rings carried by the chain case.

The numeral 1 represents the automobile, 2 the wheels thereof and 3 the chain case on one side of the machine, although it will be evident that this type of chain case is equally applicable to a machine having but a single chain. The chain case is made up of a back plate 4: having a flange 5 extending entirely around the same, said flange being suitably secured to the back plate and being provided with an opening, in which is placed a cover 6 for the insertion of the lubricant.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 24, 1912.

Patented Oct. '7, 1913. Serial No. 711,346.

The front of the flange 5 is turned down as indicated at '7, and this flange has a plurality of nuts 8 suitably secured thereto on the inside to form means for the securing of the screws 9 in place. The back plate 4: and flange 5 secured thereto forms a main hous ing to which the several plates closing the remaining o-penside of the housing are secured.

The front of the casing is made up of a plate 10 and two plates 11 and 12, which are substantially the same shape. The plate 10 has a plate 13 secured thereto on one end, between which and a brace 14 connected with the flange 5 the ends of the plates 12 and 11 pass. The plate 10 is provided with a flange extending from one end around the other end and to the sides thereof as shown at 15, and it is provided with a packing material 16, which is pressed against the edge of the case by means of the screws 9.

The plate 12 has two plates 17 connected with one edge thereof and extending from the place where said plates project from under the plate 13 to the large half circle cut therein, through which the wheel hub projects. These two plates are for the purpose of holding the edge of the plate 11 so that a tight joint will be made therewith. Each plate 11 and 12 has a semi-circular ring 18 secured thereto, which ring holds a semi-circular felt packing ring 19 in place. The semi-circular felt packing ring 19 projects toward the brake-drum of the wheel 20. This brake-drum is provided with two rings 21, which rings are suitably bolted thereto, and between which the felt packing ring passes, thus producing a substantially oil tight joint with the wheel.

Since it is convenient to have an adjustable cap at the front end of the casing, a slide plate 23 is provided, to which the cap 24 is secured, the object of this being to adapt the case to several different lengths of the chain as well as to permit the necessary adjustment of the chain, should it become too loose with wear. It will also be noted that the case is swelled out at the top and bottom as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, in order to permit the ends of the case to be as small as possible, while at the same time allowing for the necessary slapping movements up and down of the chain as it runs.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A chain casing for automobiles comprising a main housing having one open side, side plates for said housing to close the open side thereof, and means for removably securing said plates to the main housing, substantially as described.

2. A chain casing for automobiles comprising a sheet metal main housing, a removable side the'retor formed in three parts, means to secure said parts tothe main housing and to each other, and a brace connected With the opposite edges of the main housing and along Which the three plates abut, substantially as described.

3. A chain casing for automobiles comprising a sheet metal casing having one side open, three plates forming a closure for the open side of said housing and secured thereto,'and a packing ring carried by tWo of said plates to prevent the escape of lubricant from said housing, substantially as de scribed.

4. A chain casing for automobiles comprising a sheet metal main housing having one side open, plates secured to the open side of said housing and forming a closure therefor, a packing ring carried by said plates, a sprocket Wheel Within the housing, and rings carried by the sprocket Wheel to cooperate With the packing ring to'prevent the escape of lubricant from the housing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of July A. D. 1911, in the presence of the two subscribed itnesses.

HARRY C. HEATH. WVitnesses C. P. GRIFFIN, L. H. ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. i 

